My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 57 The Instructor
Madam He snorted and said, "My Yongxing Marquis family has a long history of military achievements, and generations of our family have been loyal to His Majesty. How could His Majesty let a jealous and unruly princess who has stayed in the countryside for so many years chill the hearts of the old ministers in the court? You are overthinking it."

Liu Xiuxiu couldn't help but fall into deep thought. The fact that no imperial decree had yet been issued for the position of Marquis was truly worrying.

He Jinlan and He Jiayi, the two sisters, entered the old lady's room together and said, "Grandmother."

Madam He looked at her two lovely granddaughters and smiled gently, saying, "Both are daughters of the He family, but Jinlan and Jiayi are more like daughters of my Yongxing Marquis's mansion. That unruly country bumpkin is a disgrace to our mansion. She hasn't returned since her grandfather's funeral. She's truly a shameless hussy who would do such a thing as keeping a male concubine and abandoning her father to keep her son."

He Jiayi said in a low voice, "Grandmother, my eldest sister's reputation has been ruined. It's alright if it affects me, but if it affects my second sister and prevents her from becoming the Seventh Prince's consort, then the crime will be much greater. Grandmother, you should do something about the rumors about my eldest sister."

He Jinlan said, "What do I care about rumors? I think the rumors outside aren't bad enough."

Madam He looked at He Jinlan and said, "That's true, the position of the Seventh Prince's consort is important."

"Great joy, great joy! Mother, great joy!"

The second master of the He family hurriedly entered and said, "Sister-in-law."

"Second uncle."

"Daddy."

Madam He looked at the second master of the He family and asked, "What great joy is it?"

Master He said, "His Majesty has issued an imperial decree, ordering the Seventh Prince to marry our eldest daughter on April 26th. The Ministry of Rites is already making preparations."

With a smile on her face, Madam He hurriedly stood up with the help of her maid, asking, "Where is the imperial edict? Is it outside?"

Second Master He said, "There is no imperial edict. I heard it from an official of the Ministry of Rites. Our He family is going to produce a consort for the Seventh Prince. Perhaps she will become the empress in the future."

He Jinlan lowered her head, clutching her handkerchief, trying her best to suppress her joy. She still had to maintain her composure. "How did Your Majesty set the wedding date so quickly? It's still during the mourning period for my grandfather."

The second master of the He family said, "Although our Marquis's mansion still needs to observe mourning for Father, there has always been a saying that marriage should take place within the hundred-day mourning period. April 26th is exactly within the hundred-day period."

Madam He clasped her hands together and said, "May the old Marquis bless us. Lan'er will become the Seventh Prince's consort at the end of April. The title of Marquis of Yongxing will probably be passed to your eldest brother soon."

The second master of the He family chuckled and said, "Yes, I must write a letter to inform the He family and friends of this happy event."

Liu Xiuxiu, however, was not as joyful as the others present. "His Majesty has set the wedding date, but why didn't he discuss it with our Marquis's Mansion? The Ministry of Rites is preparing for the wedding, but they haven't come to our Marquis's Mansion either. In fact, Lan'er will be the Seventh Prince's Consort in two months. Shouldn't there be palace tutors teaching her manners by now? Could it be that this Seventh Prince's Consort isn't Lan'er's?"

He Jinlan said, "If it's not mine, whose is it? Would the Seventh Prince really marry that shameless, promiscuous Lu Jinshi as his Seventh Prince's Consort?"

Liu Xiuxiu fell into deep thought. She didn't know what to say, but something was definitely not right.
-
Inside the villa on East Street.

Upon seeing the several teaching matrons who had arrived, Lu Jinshi smiled faintly and said, "Thank you all for coming to teach me etiquette. However, I have been busy with teaching at the academy and recruiting female students these past few days, and I have truly had no time to learn etiquette from you. My mother also taught me palace etiquette when I was young, and I still remember it. So, I won't trouble you matrons." The head matron, Kong, bowed and said, "Miss Lu, every prince's consort who marries into the royal family must learn some royal rules. With your wedding day approaching, as the seventh prince's consort, it is really not appropriate for you to show your face outside the palace. There has never been a rule in any dynasty for a prince's consort to teach outside the palace."

Lu Jinshi said, "Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. These outdated rules can be changed. Several scholars in Lingxiao Academy are expected to pass the imperial examination next spring and serve the court. You can't hinder their future."

Granny Kong said, "Miss Lu, the princess consort must not show her face in public. According to palace rules, she must stay in the mansion and not leave the inner palace. She should learn the palace rules and how to serve His Highness the Seventh Prince with utmost respect."

Lu Jinshi frowned slightly and clenched her hands. She was still somewhat concerned about Consort Rong and said, "His Highness the Seventh Prince is also studying at the academy. It was he who allowed me to teach at the academy. Now that I am recruiting female students, it is because the Seventh Prince has provided a large sum of money. If I want to be respectful to the Seventh Prince, I can only continue to teach at the academy."

Granny Kong said, "Miss Lu, I hope you will consider the reputation of the Crown Princess. You absolutely must not go to the academy."

Lu Jinshi's face darkened as he said, "Caiyun, go and call Rong Yi over here!"

The colorful clouds beside them echoed in agreement.

Granny Kong was still on the side, advising Lu Jinshi to remember the rules for women in the palace, that it was shameful to show her face in public and teach, and so on...

Lu Jinshi felt as if there were mosquitoes buzzing in his ears.

Soon, Caiyun arrived with Rong Yi.

"Seventh Prince..."

Several old women bowed to Rong Yi.

Rong Yi glanced at the several teaching matrons in front of him, then at Lu Jinshi, whose face had darkened. He waved his hand, signaling the teaching matrons to leave first.

After the nanny left, Lu Jinshi turned to Rong Yi with a dark face and said, "Rong Yi, you said I could still teach at the academy after marriage. Now, we're not even married yet, and the nanny your family sent is keeping me confined to the inner courtyard. If you want to find a princess consort who is willing to be imprisoned in the inner courtyard for you, you can go find a woman who is willing..."

Rong Yi said, "These teaching assistants are also following the palace rules. I will tell them that they cannot control you to teach at the academy, but you must also learn the rules of the palace properly."

Lu Jinshi looked at Rong Yi and said, "Do you want me to learn the rules of the palace, or do you want to clip my wings and make me obsequious to you? I have to teach you how to write essays and recruit female students at the same time. Where do I have time to learn those rules of being obsequious to you?"

Rong Yi sighed and said, "Where did I ask you to be respectful to me? After we get married, you will inevitably have to deal with the royal family and relatives. You don't even know some of the rules. How will you get along with your sister-in-law and the others in the future?"

Lu Jinshi looked at Rong Yi and said, "I am not ignorant of the palace rules. My mother taught me when I was a child. I know better than you how to greet His Majesty. If you also think that it is right for these tutors to discipline me, then go find a prince's wife who is willing to be taught."

Rong Yi's face darkened as he listened, and he said, "Lu Jinshi, what do you take me for? In just a few words, how many times have you told me to find other women? Do you really not care about the relationship between us?"

Lu Jinshi said in a low voice, "If I didn't care, I would have left with a dark face just now. Why would I tolerate these nannies again and again and treat them with respect? You said you wouldn't restrict me after marriage, so what do you mean by bringing these teaching nannies here to teach me how to serve you?"